England centre Ollie Lawrence targeting early return from injury for Bath in Worcester curtain-raiser

England centre Ollie Lawrence is in contention to make an emotional return from injury in Bath's pre-season match against Worcester.

Lawrence missed out on this summer's Lions tour after rupturing his Achilles during the Six Nations.

The 25-year-old has returned to training ahead of schedule and could be thrown back into action for Bath next week, when they take on Worcester in their first home match since 2022.

Lawrence came through Worcester's academy but was forced to leave the club when they went bankrupt three years ago.

Worcester will return to the Championship this season and Bath coach Johan van Graan revealed: 'Ollie's back in training and he's ahead of schedule. 

'We've collaborated with England, because that's very important in the process, and hopefully you'll see him on the pitch soon.

'On Worcester, we're very excited about the game. It's a great story for them to return. If you think about all the supporters that haven't seen a game there for three years. We took in Ted Hill and Ollie at that time. There's a chance Ollie might be involved.

'He set himself specific targets of when he wants to be back. I haven't seen one moment of him feeling sorry for himself. He took this head on. You'll see him return as a better rugby player, a beer person, a better team-mate. It will take him some time to get back to performance because he's been out a long time but all credit to him.'

Lawrence's return will provide a timely boost for England coach Steve Borthwick, who will be hoping the midfielder can hit form and fitness ahead of the autumn series.

However, Sale flanker Tom Curry is set for a spell on the sidelines, having played through the Lions tour with a torn ligament in his wrist.

Sale coach Alex Sanderson said: 'Tom's return to play sits him somewhere around the autumn internationals, so you're more likely in an England shirt than in a Sale shirt. But you never know, he has a habit of defying comeback dates and what surgeons say. He's on good form, that's the best sign. He's healing well and he's dead positive.'

Leicester forward George Martin also remains out of action, while Saracens' utility back Elliot Daly is expected to return in October.

Saracens coach Mark McCall said: 'Elliot has a few fractures in his arm. He has a scan next week, just to see how it's doing. We hope to have him back mid-way through that first Prem block.'

Over the coming weeks, Borthwick will meet with coaches across the Premiership to plan load management for players returning from the Lions tour.

The likes of Maro Itoje, Tommy Freeman and Ben Earl are scheduled to return in round three of the Premiership.

Having exceeded the 30-match playing limit last season, they are expected to have mandatory stand-down periods this season, with Northampton coach Phil Dowson hoping the slack will not be picked up entirely by the clubs.

'I sat down with Steve and say we're going to give Tommy an extra week off between now and Christmas,' said Dowson. 'We've also said as part of our plan to reduce those games is that he'll have a week off between now and then (Xmas) and England potentially could do the same. Whether they do or not I don't know.

'Steve Borthwick wants Tommy Freeman to be fit now, fit next year and fit in five years' time and that's what we want at Northampton Saints. How we do that, and who carries that burden, is going to be the big question. We're still yet to really figure that out. It can't always be the club.

'I've said my piece, and what I think needs to happen, and everyone at the RFU, Phil Morrow and everyone understands that. What happens will depend on a lot of different contexts.'